Method and system for negotiated call forwarding

Abstract

A call forwarding system that prevents unwanted call forwarding activations from taking place. The system requests approval prior to activating call forwarding. The approval is obtained by sending a request communication to the destination to which calls are to be forwarded. The destination has the option of accepting the request for call forwarding or rejecting the request. The call forwarding may be applied to phone calls between electronic devices and to forwarding of video communication sessions over computer networks.

1. In a telecommunications network, a method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a request to forward a call supporting a facsimile communication or a modem communication directed to a first destination to a second destination; and  
 contacting the second destination to obtain an approval for the request to forward the call from the first destination to the second destination.  
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of denying the request to forward the call when the approval is not obtained. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of granting the request to forward the call when the approval is obtained. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of contacting comprises calling the second destination and requesting the approval. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the telecommunications system includes an interactive voice response (IVR) unit that generates a voice message for requesting the approval. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first destination is a telephone set. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first destination is a computer system with telephony capabilities for placing a call. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second destination is a computer system with telephony capabilities for receiving a call. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second destination is a computer system with telephony capabilities for receiving a call. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second destination is a telephone set. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically forwarding the call when the approval is obtained. 
   
   
     12. In a telecommunications network having a first computer system and a second computer system, a method comprising the steps of:
 providing a configuration wherein a video communication session is initially directed to the first computer system;  
 receiving a request to direct the video communication session to the second computer system;  
 sending a communication to the second computer system to obtain approval of the request; and  
 redirecting the video communication session to the second computer system when the approval is obtained.  
 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the video communication session is a video conferencing session. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of sending the communication comprises sending an electronic mail message. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of sending the communication comprises sending a video mail message. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of sending the communication comprises sending a facsimile. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of sending the communication comprises placing a phone call. 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of denying the request when the approval is not obtained. 
   
   
     19. A call forwarding system comprising:
 a switch for directing a call supporting a facsimile communication or a modem communication intended for a first destination to a second destination when call forwarding is activated; and  
 approval logic coupled to the switch for contacting the second destination to obtain approval for the request to direct the calls from the first destination to the second destination before call forwarding is activated.  
 
   
   
     20. The call forwarding system of  claim 19 , wherein the switch is a private branch exchange (PBX). 
   
   
     21. The call forwarding system of  claim 19 , wherein the approval logic comprises an interactive voice response unit for generating a verbal message soliciting the approval for the directing of the calls. 
   
   
     22. The call forwarding system of  claim 19 , wherein call forwarding is not activated if the approval for the directing of the calls is not obtained. 
   
   
     23. A method of processing a multi-media call, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to forward the multi-media call directed to a first destination to a second destination; and  
 obtaining an approval for the request from the second destination to forward the multi-media call from the first destination to the second destination.  
 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the multi-media call supports one of a facsimile session, an email session, a paging session, and a video session. 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the approval is obtained via a web interface.